Japanese Food in Paris and the Rue Sainte-Anne Quarter

If the 15th arrondissement is where many Koreans live, the Japanese community clusters in the 1st, right in the center of Paris, home to the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden and the Palais Royal. Japanese residents settled here long ago, and Japanese restaurants and shops now crowd the area, with rue Sainte-Anne at its heart. One caveat: many Japanese restaurants here are actually run by Chinese owners, so choose carefully. Truly great Japanese restaurants are rare in Paris, so these picks come from a local's point of view.

Sanukiya is considered Paris's best udon shop, loved by locals and visitors alike. Go for hot broth when you're craving it, or for cold udon on a hot day. The line is always long and they don't take phone reservations, so avoid peak hours. It opens at 11:30 a.m. and stays open through to 10 p.m. with no break.

Kunitoraya is another udon shop. If Sanukiya is casual and lively, this one is trendier and more upscale. It's a bit pricier, but the food and atmosphere make up for it. It's right beside the Palais Royal garden.

For sushi, there's Ryô, also in the 1st: a fairly upscale sushi restaurant, pricey, but with a look and feel that makes you think you're in Japan. It's very popular with locals.

Kokoya is a tiny sushi shop in the 17th arrondissement, in the north of Paris and away from the busy streets. With only a few tables, it's always full. Prices are in the 20-euro range, great value for a hidden gem. Book ahead.

Sushi Gourmet is another good-value sushi spot, also in the 20-euro range. It's outside central Paris, but the quality at this price is worth the trip. There are tables, but they're very tight, so the narrator took it away and ate by the Seine. On the map, the closest spot is the Île aux Cygnes, a small island in the middle of the river, with benches and a walking path that make for a perfect lunch. Cross the Seine from there and you're in the 15th, where many Koreans live, with the big, pleasant Beaugrenelle shopping center.

Finally, back on rue Sainte-Anne: Aki Boulangerie. It's a bakery, but at lunch it sells Japanese curry, rice bowls and onigiri to takeaway crowds of office workers and students. The Japanese breads are mostly excellent too: melon-flavored crumble buns, red bean buns, twisted doughnuts, mochi and assorted sponge cakes. There's seating inside.

Directly opposite is Aki Restaurant, run by the same owner. It serves okonomiyaki, which is rare in Paris, in an open-kitchen setting that feels like a trip to Japan. Handmade soba and donburi round out a wide menu, making it one of the most popular Japanese restaurants in Paris.